Back in the day of the steam-powered tape deck, Art, as I recall. Cumbersome things they were, too. Better than the squirrels on the treadmill that preceded 'em though.

Ed, this whole quest is learn-as-you-go for us all. Yes, there are collections, and you can (and should) learn as much as you can about using them. But there are also attics, forgotten boxes of papers in historical societies, diaries, poems in newspapers....Lord knows what-all. And the human memory, in all its weirdness. Serendipity and just-plain-accident play a big role.

What you seem to be looking for is one of my favorite things, the really local ballad about specific people and events. They did exist. A few "made it big", like "The Jam on Gerry's Rock." But most of them were so local that they passed with their makers and the old communities those folks lived in.

Just occasionally, somebody caring and inquisitive still turns one up.

Good hunting.

And, indeed, the biggest failing of Mudcat is its inability to let us share that pint while mulling all of this.

- G